Metal sign.



E. L. AYERS & W. F. COFFEE.

METAL SIGN.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11, 1902.

Fig 3 PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

UNITED STATES Fatented uly 21,

PATENT OFFICE;

EDwARD LYTTON AYERS AND WILLIAM FLOYD COFFEE, OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA; SAID AYERs AssIeNOR TO SAID OOFFEE.

METAL SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,212, dated my 21*, 1903.

Application filed June 11, 1902.

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD LYTTON AYERS and WILLIAM FLOYD COFFEE, citizens of the United States, residing at Modesto, county of Stanislaus, State of California, have invented an Improvement in- Metal Signs; and we hereby declare the following to be a, full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in signs and sign-boards. Its object is to pro-' vide an indestructible sign suited particularly for use in indicating localities, directions, and distances along highways.

It consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts which we will hereinafter describe and claim.

It comprises details which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a letter. Fig. 3 is a View of a vertical section of pipe.

A represents a letter element, which is preferably cast" in metal and which is provided with the segmental flanges 2 at top and bottom. The flanges 2 extend beyond the side edges of the letters or characters, as shown in Fig. 2, and serve as means for spacing the letters. Numerals, arrows, and other symbols may be similarly cast and provided with similar flanges. These letters, numerals, and symbols may then be assembled and locked in a-frame or form in any desired combination to indicate towns, distances, directions, &c.

' It has been one object of our invention to provide a form which will hold a plurality of sets of directions indicating as many different places, distances, &c., and which will admit of one set or any letter or part thereof being removed or replaced at any time without having to dismantle the entire sign. In the presentinstance we have shown a frame composed of the upper and lower horizontal pipe-sections 3 and the. short vertical sections 4. Each horizontal section 3 has its ends provided with right and left threads which screw into correspondingly-threaded elbows 5. Each vertical section at is similarly 5o threaded, and one end screws into an elbow Serial No. 111,129., (No model.)

and the other into a right and left threaded T 6, disposed intermediate of each vertical section. These Ts are connected by a horizontal section 7, by which the frame is divided into two letterforms, into each of which may be inserted a combination indicative of a town along the highway lying at one side or the other of a given point, as shown in Fig. 1.

The various elements forming a combination are assembled between the horizontal sections and are inserted by removing one or the other of the short vertical sections 4.

As the height of the elements are uniform and the flanges 2 conform to the pipe-sections 3 and 7, the parts are firmly locked together and held from any displacement when the vertical sections 4 are screwed up properly.

4 The whole may be supported on a suitable pipe-standard 8. 7

By oppositely threading the ends of the vertical sections and correspondingly threading the elbows and Ts the horizontal sections. are drawn together quickly and uniformly, and it is not necessaryin dismantling a sign to remove the upper or lower horizontal sections and their respective elbows separately.

In case it is desired to add other signs indicating various places along the route one has only to insert other ties, intermediate horizontal sections, and additional vertical sections as required.

A sign-board of this character is not liable to injury or defacement by vandals and is practically indestructible.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. A metal sign consisting of a frame composed of pipe-sections, and letters or characters having segmental flanges at top and bottom fitting said sections said flanges extending beyond'the side edges of the letters or characters to serve as spacing means.

2. A metal sign consisting in combination of a frame composed of pipe-sections having their opposite ends provided with right and left threads, corresponding connections and sign elements clamped in said frame, said clamped between the horizontal members of elements having segmental flanges at top said forms. and bottom. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set 3. A metal sign consisting in combination our hands. 5 of a frame-composed of separable pipe-sec tions, said sections and connections having their opposite ends oppositely threaded, said EDWARD LYTTON AYERS. WILLIAM FLOYD COFFEE.

W. E. CROW, P. H. GRIFFIN.

frame having a plurality of vertically-adl Witnesses: 

